Incubator



Dec. 2, 1941. l CLAYTON 2,264,619

INCUBATOR Filed Sept. 13, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l MNM S 23 as 3| 3sINCUBATOR Filed Sept. 13, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 f1 ff ,n Sa

.www lI/ITIIIIIIIIIIIIII ATTOR EY Dec. 2, 1941. L. A. CLAYTON INCUBATORFiled Sept. l5, 19'59 3 SheetS-SheelI 5 v ATTORN EY Patented Dec. 2,1941 UNITED STTES TENT QFFICE INCUBATOR mingham, Ala.

Application September 13, 1939, Serial No. 294,603

2 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to an improved apparatus commonly called anincubator for the purpose of hatching eggs, an invention moreparticularly described as that type of incubator in which the eggs arearranged for different stages of incubation, this consisting in placingthe eggs in what is known as a hatching compartment after they havereached the stage where they are to begin to hatch within a few days.The incubator is provided with a system of supplying heated moist airfrom two sources, each compartment of the incubator being provided witha separate source.

I am aware of the fact that there are many incubators in use, but thereare none to my knowledge possessing the advantages of my incubator aswill be disclosed.

'I'he incubator is divided into two separate compartments comprising theupper or incubator and the lower or hatching compartment. Thesecompartments are independent one of the other, each containing its ownheating and atmospheric control system. The compartments are furtherdivided into three divisions each, a right and left incubator divisionand a right and left hatching division. In the center in the upper andlower compartments is placed another division containing the heating andcirculating members.

Similar reference numerals refer to lsimilar parts throughout theseveral views.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of whole incubator with the left front wallcut away; Fig. 2 is a plan of top of incubator with left half in sectionon line 2-2 on Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan of bottom hatchery in section online 3-3 on Fig. 1 showing trays; Fig. 4 is a viewv in vertical sectionon line 4-4 on Fig. 1 showing both incubator and hatchery trays andwall; Fig. 5 is a View in section on line 5-5 on Fig 1; Fig. 6 is a viewin section on line 6-6 on Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is an outside end view on line1-1 on Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a part plan in section on line 8 8 on Fig. 10;Fig. 9 is a part elevation in section on line 9-9 on Fig. 10; Fig. 10 isa part rear elevation on line Ill-Hl on Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a detail oftray 9 and plate I5; Fig. 12 is a detail of tray 9 and plate I5 withtrays in upright position; Fig. 13 is a cross section of Fig.

12 on line |3-I3 on Fig. 12. Y

By referring to the drawings it will be seen the structure of theincubator comprises a main outside case having an outer wall I6, aninner wall I 'I and insulation 25 between the walls. About two-thirdsdown in the case there is a This is for the purpose of removing the eggsto the hatchery compartment when they are near the hatching stage. Thetrays are manipulated by hand wheel II on shaft I2 and slide mechanismI0. The egg trays and operation of same are no part of the presentinvention as they are now standard in large incubators, but they areherev included to show their positionwith relation to the iiow of air inthe assembled parts making up the entire machine. In each end of theupper compartment there is an air shaft 24 formed between the inner wallI'I and the outer wall I6 of the incubator. This air shaft has an inletnear the bottom of wall Il as yshown by 23 and an outlet through wall I6as indicated by 6. There is another air shaft 32 that is formed bypartitions running up part of the way between the trays 9. Mounted inthe central division just above an horizontal iioor with its centerportion cut out between partitions 2 and 4 is electric fan 26 that drawsair through intake 34 and adjustable intake 33 and forces same downwardby heating unit 28 that is suspended from a bracket. On the iloor thereis a water pan inclicated by 43 which the air strikes for moisturepurposes. The air then travels along the solid oor up through the eggtrays and air shaft 32. The air circulates up through the egg trays andalso through holes 36 in shaft 32. When the hot air rises to the top itdrifts towards the center and is sucked down by the fan. Surplus airpasses out through 23 up air shaft 24 and out exhaust hole 6. There is aswitch 45 provided for the incubator compartment. In the incubatorcompartment 44 indicates the plug for the heating unit and 46 the plugfor the fan. Mounted on top of incubator is suction fan 30 attached topipe 42 that is connected to the air space 3| in the double iloor of theincubator for the purpose of drawing cool air through inlet holes 8.

The lower compartment is somewhat similar to the upper compartmentexcept as to the circulation of air. The fresh air is drawn in throughadjustable intakes 35 and is forced downward by fan 27 just above anhorizontal floor with its center portion cut out passing heating unit 29double iioor that cuts off the upper compartment that is suspended froma bracket. Partitions 3 and 5 run from the top of the bottom floor tothe bottom of the upper floor with holes placed in same. When the streamof air strikes the partitions it travels along the route indicated by 31and 39. There is a horizontal partition indicated by 51 that extendsalong a little over one-half the floor in the lower compartment. This isfor the purpose of carrying the flow of air towards each outer end ofthe hatchery divisions. The flow of air travels upwardly back towardsthe fan and the surplus air passes out through the eX- haust 1.

The upper and lower compartments are provided with double doors made ofwood and glass. The main body of the doors are attached to sash 22 andhave outside wood panels indicated by i8 and 20 to cover the glasspanels indicated by I9 and 2|. 'Ih'ere is a relay switch 4l, thermostat48 for control of the heat in the incubator, a switch 49 for thehatchery and relay switch 50. Also there is a plug 5l for the heatingunit in the hatchery; thermostat 52 for control of the heat in thehatchery compartment; wet-bulb thermometer 53 to indicate humidity inthe incubator compartment; wet-bulb thermometer 54 to indicate humidityin the hatchery compartment; thermometer 55 for indication oftemperature in the incubator; and thermometer 5S for indication oftemperature in hatchery compartment. There is a plug 58 for fan in thehatchery compartment; main switch 59 for control of all electric powerto the entire incubator; and thermostat 5D for control of electriccurrent to fan 30. The egg trays have screen bottoms indicated by 4l)with vent holes in their sides indicated by 4I.

1. An incubator compartment divided into three divisions by walls havingupper and lower holes for air passage, the central division of saidcompartment having an electric fan mounted above and close to anelectric heating unit, a flat pan for water directly below the heatingunit, said fan disposed to force air downwardly when operating, said airstriking the surface of water in said flat pan positioned close to anddirectly below the fan and heating unit, said air passing out of saidcentral division through the holes in the lower portion of its walls,said air passing horizontally along the floors of the lower halves ofthe adjacent divisions on both sides containing trays holding the eggs,each of said egg-containing divisions having a solid horizontal oorextending from the inner wall to a little over one-half the distance tothe outer wall of the division, this floor directing air from the lowerholes below this oor, then up, and then inward above this iioor to theupper holes; the egg trays having holes in their sides which formpassage ways for the air, said air thus going to its starting point andagain in contact with the fan for recirculation.

2. An incubator having two stories, the upper story for hatching eggs inthe early stage of incubation and the lower story for hatching the sameeggs in the nal stage of incubation, said two stories divided by adouble I'loor with an air space between its upper and lower layer, Ventholes in each end of said air space, a draft pipe attached to the rearof said air space, and an electric fan mounted on top of the incubatorand connected to said air pipe for circulating fresh air for cooling theair between said upper and lower ioors, said fan being thermostatcontrolled.

LEE A. CLAYTON.

